Kilian Jornet and Tove Alexandersson took gold for Spain and Sweden in the final race of the 2018 Skyrunning World Championships on Saturday. Both athletes smashed the course records for the 29km Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace.
© No Limits Photography
More than 700 runners headed to the Scottish Highlands to take on the technical Skyrace, based on a classic hill round which includes four Munro summits and 2500m of ascent. It is the first time Scotland has hosted the biennial Skyrunning World Championships.
Kilian, 30, a world-acclaimed skyrunner, came home in 03:04:34, an incredible 20 minutes faster than the record set last year. The Salomon athlete, who had a bloodied chin after falling on the final descent, said: "It was an amazing race on a beautiful and technical course. I am very happy to be the winner."
In only her second Skyrace, 26-year-old Tove finished almost 19 minutes ahead of the record in 03:46:28. Tove won her debut Skyrace, the Limone Skyrunning Xtreme last October and is a seven-times orienteering world champion. Looking fresh and relaxed at the finish, she said: "I did not have a big expectation of this race because I am new to skyraces but it was a nice day for me.
"It was a fantastic course and it feels amazing to be world champion."
© No Limits Photography
In silver position overall and 91 seconds behind Kilian, was Italian runner Nadir Maguet in 03:06:05. He was followed by Stian Angermund-Vik, of Norway, in 03:09:05.
Revealing the high calibre of the runners in today's Skyrunning World Championships race, the top 11 men finished inside last year's record time.
In the women's race, the top six also ran faster than last year's record winning time of 04:05:12 set by Spain's Laura Orgue. Two Brits took silver and bronze, Victoria Wilkinson and Holly Page in 03:54:01 and 03:57:57 respectively.
The Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace is also the fifth race in the new Golden Trail Series and decided many athlete places for the Grand Final in South Africa next month.
Due to the wild weather, today's race, the Salomon Glen Coe Skyline, is taking place on a revised course that misses out some of the more technical scrambling. Kilian Jornet is set to race again in a bid to defend his record-breaking win from last year.
Comments
I love the quote from the women's winner:
In only her second Skyrace, 26-year-old Tove finished almost 19 minutes ahead of the record in 03:46:28. ... Looking fresh and relaxed at the finish, she said: "I did not have a big expectation of this race because I am new to skyraces but it was a nice day for me.
'It was a nice day' seems very Swedish, and typical of orienteers, who tend to be less brash than climbers. The top orienteers are super-fit, of course, and used to running fast downhill through rough terrain, so this course will have suited her.